Looking to purchase a 50 W GMRS transceiver

[OhioGuy]

I have a 50 W, 2 meter / 440 MHz transceiver that I use as a base station. I modified it to transmit on GMRS, but I recently learned I am not allowed to do so because the radio is not certified/approved by the FCC for GMRS.

 

So I am now in the market for a dedicated GMRS radio for my base station. It must operate from a 12 V power supply and be capable of transmitting up to 50 W. I have found two on the market:

 

BaoFengTech GMRS-50X1

 

Wouxun KG-1000G

 

Which radio would you purchase if you were me? Or perhaps something different?

 

 

Thank you,

 

Michael

WRFS927

 

 

 

 

[mbrun]

Hello Michael WRFS927,

 

As far as current generation in production models that are type certified your choices are limited. Of the two you listed, I would choose the 1000G. The programming options for the 50X1 are too limiting for me. Midland’s radios are the easiest of all to use, and they have the greatest selection of models, but like the 50X1 programmability is limited. It has been reported on this forum by a couple of folks that midland is coming out with a new models (MXT500 and MXT575) with features reportedly that overcome the programmability deficiencies of their current products.

 

Some on this forum choose to buy used equipment. Some use product that was certified before the rule changes under part 95a and some choose to use the higher quality, better performing commercial radio equipment certified under part 90. I hear that the FCC seems to turn a blind-eye to part 90 radios, perhaps because they are higher performers.

 

I personally own (4) current generation Wouxun Radios. I started with 2, added 1, then added another in just the last couple of weeks. I have chosen to stay part 95e legal. Overall I am pleased with the performance of each the models in my environment. I only wish Midland made a radio with the features and performance I wanted.

 

Regards,

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[MacJack]

Welcome to the myGMRS, brotherhood of fellow newbies Michael WRFS927.  I would pick Wouxun KG-1000G, per the specs, sounds like a great radio for the price and features... I would use the radio in my Jeep or base but my KG-805G 5 watt Handheld reaches the big repeater with 20-30 miles range and have a great repeater owner/operator.  

 

I wish the USA radio firm who are marketing Chinese made radios add the added the feature we are lookin for and see in the KG-1000...  My mentor Michael WRHS965 and I both have Wouxun products...  I which so call American made radio firms who outsource manufacturing of their radio tell their Chinese manufactors to up the features that Wouxun has.  I do like the Motorola products as I have been in LEO for 30 years and trust them well, but they are not Part 95 certify or made in USA IMHO, so if I'm wrong let Motorola correct me for my knowledge...  Under full disclosure I will be using a Motorola GR1225 for a family private repeater which is Part 90 certified with a lot of feature I'm looking for.  I will have less than $800 in a family repeater project thanks to the myGRMR advice.

 

I also like the Wouxun KG-1000G with the removable face plate or head for use as a base and or mobile installation.  In my life I want to have flexibly which is key as I learn so much from the guys on this forum....

 

Hope this helps..

Jack 

[axorlov]

If only for GMRS, I'd go with one of the second-hand commercial mobiles, like Kenwood TK-860, TK-880, TK-8180 or similar (like 8102), or with offerings from Motorola. Much much cheaper, and by a lot of circumstantial evidence, perform better.

[gf66]

just hooked up the midland MTX400. I haven't tested it for range. Was hoping I'd pick up more with it but so far it hasn't anything the GTX1050 hand held has, except some weird annoying rhythmic static on channel 3. Sounds like a fan blade hitting something inconsistently producing a consistent repeated pattern. It's annoying because the radio stops on in when in scan mode and can't get out of it. I am trying to set up a base station able to communicate with others in a group of people we can count on to come to each others aid in these troubling times. I hope it's range can at least start a chain reaction of communication that will reach enough to reach everyone.

 

Am using a magnet mounted 30 inchish antenna. I heard it was the best for mobile use. More interested in listening than sending till sending is a must. It's available through many vendors, I have an account with one so it came with benefits to buy the MTX400. I do think I did a professional job on the install so if all it turns out to be is a looker, I have at least that going.

 

It did pick up a conversation between a man and a woman the other day, they were discussing Teriyaki chicken for dinner. Rather listen to that any day as boring as it is compared to what I could be hearing I never want to hear, even though that is the reason I'm getting into alternate forms of communication. Wish I could've figured out how far away they were. I'm also in Ohio, N.W. Ohio, nice and flat round here. 

[OhioGuy]

Thank you!

 

So I've been doing some reading on Part 90 vs. Part 95. I am still confused. Could someone give me a quick "Part 90 / 95 for Dummies" tutorial? 

[gman1971]

The Motorola CDM750 or CDM1250 are surprisingly good radios with very good receivers.  The 1250 might be a tad better b/c you have more than 4 channels.. but...

 

G.

[axorlov]

Part 90 vs 95E (and 95A pre-2017) in one sentence:

Technical specs are identical (stability, deviation, etc); Part 90 UHF equipment covers roughly from 400MHz to 500MHz; Part 95E (A) covers few channels in 462MHz and 467MHz.

 

Some older Part 90 equipment are also Part 95A, like Kenwoods I listed above.

[Miklor]

I have 2  GMRS mobiles.

A BTech 50x1 (50 watt)    https://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_GMRS-50X1.php
and a AnyTone AT-779 (20 watt)     https://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_AT779.php

The 50X1 is much better.

[WRCY896]

I am trying to find the FCC IDon two of the radios.

 

The Anytone and the Retevis 20W mobile units.

 

I want a simple radio in which I can change PL tones and very basic things such as turning off beeps and voice, and etc. Same things as most of the GMRS handhelds.

 

I dont need all of the extra features of the Wouxon, nor do I need to watch four channels such as the BTECH.

 

I have two Btech GMRS V1 radios and one Retevis RT76P. I like them both for different reasons, and with one exception with the Retevis, I have been able to program the radios as much as I need to with the exception of changing the channels to names. I have to do that through the computer.

 

I need something I can put in my wife's car and she can turn on and push no more than a couple buttons and talk.

 

I have also been using the handhelds on narrow band with my repeater and have not had any noticeable audio issues, so I am wondering if the midland 115 or 275 would do what I need it to do? But... the one repeater a friend has is an open tone on the transmit side, and I dont believe the Midlands allow split tones.

[wayoverthere]

The 115 and 275 do not allow split tones...the 400 can, but requires programming to enable that. The other minor difficulty is changing tones requires consulting a chart in the instructions for what code in the menu equates to what tone. If you're just setting up once and leaving it be, not a huge issue

 

Can vouch for the btech being pretty straightforward for plug and go, and not difficult to change a few settings. It isn't as small as the 115 or 275, and you can't add additional transmit channels in the empty memory slots, everything past the base 30 (1-22 simplex, and the 15-22 repeater channels) is receive only

[serrasalmus]

also the kg1000g is hard to get right now, ive had mine ordered last week and ive got a maybe get it shipped at the end of the month. tried to order 2 and it wouldn't let me...

[WRCY896]

The 115 and 275 do not allow split tones...the 400 can, but requires programming to enable that. The other minor difficulty is changing tones requires consulting a chart in the instructions for what code in the menu equates to what tone. If you're just setting up once and leaving it be, not a huge issue

 

Can vouch for the btech being pretty straightforward for plug and go, and not difficult to change a few settings. It isn't as small as the 115 or 275, and you can't add additional transmit channels in the empty memory slots, everything past the base 30 (1-22 simplex, and the 15-22 repeater channels) is receive only

Not worried about adding channels in the empty memory slots. Biggest issue for me is being able to hit my friends repeater. We had conversation yesterday at 40 miles to the repeater with my RT76P. I want to make it a bit more clear and simple for my wife when she travels.

 

I really want a small radio.

 

If the MXT 400 will do that, I may consider that route.

[wayoverthere]

Not worried about adding channels in the empty memory slots. Biggest issue for me is being able to hit my friends repeater. We had conversation yesterday at 40 miles to the repeater with my RT76P. I want to make it a bit more clear and simple for my wife when she travels.

 

I really want a small radio.

 

If the MXT 400 will do that, I may consider that route.

Some googling puts the btech and the mxt400 pretty close in size, 7.5"x5.7"x1.85" for the btech, vs 7.3"x5.5"x1.6" for the mxt400.

 

There's other posts around the forum on programming the mxt400, software sources, and what cable is needed.

 

On the btech, I want to say I paid a little extra for the cable, but it isn't needed absolutely needed if all you're changing is tones. it's straightforward to do from the menu/front panel, and it will do split tones out of the box.